PM lacks will to fight corruption -- Jethmalani

PM lacks will to fight corruption -- Jethmalani
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

PUNE, MARCH 14: Refusing to let the dust settle over his exit from Cabinet, former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani today seized the Tehelka defence deal expose to slam the Prime Minister for ``preferring harmony to fighting against corruption.''

``Pardon me for striking a personal note, but when the Prime Minister had asked me to resign, even with that action he had shown that he does not bear great hostility against corruption. He preferred harmony to fighting against corruption,'' Jethmalani told reporters in an impromptu press conference, minutes after presiding over the Symbiosis Society's Law Day function on Wednesday.

``It's unfortunate that the PM has not been able to show the strength of character that's required to get rid of people who are incompetent or corrupt or both...''

Jethmalani, who chose to open his Law Day address ``under the shadow of very disturbing but not totally unexpected news splashed across front pages today,'' minced no words later, to insist that ``the PM must examine his own colleagues, being an honest man is not enough when you head political responsibility.''

``The damage this will do to our defence establishments is incalculable. What has happened is a disgrace that I, at least, never expected to happen so soon...but even now the PM must rescue himself from this mess. It's late but not too late.''

However, the former law minister confessed to a conflict between the lawyer and politician within him. ``As a lawyer I don't form a final opinion until the last court has spoken. In politics you have to make rough and ready decisions, you don't have to wait for these time-consuming processes.''

Jethmalani also used the opportunity to champion the work of the Constitution Review Commission and brushed off the ``many mean-minded people in this country who say the commission is designed to carry out the agenda of the BJP,'' as ``very very malicious criticism.''

Basic features of the Constitution and parliamentary form of government make 95 per cent of the Constitution, he said, adding that he was proud of the commission's recommendations covering the remaining five per cent, outlined in seven consultation papers released so far, for public scrutiny and discussion.